Winner of an award for adventurous programming by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers and the American Symphony Orchestra League in 2002, Oberlin’s Contemporary Music Ensemble (CME) is considered one of the premiere new music ensembles in higher education in the United States. The CME performs music of all styles and genres, with a repertoire that is as broad as the entirety of contemporary music. In addition to giving first performances of new works by prominent composers, the CME has also premiered works by student, faculty, and alumni composers. Many famous and respected new music performers have been guest soloists with the CME, including Marilyn Nonken, Stephen Drury, Jennifer Koh ’97, Steven Schick, and Ursula Oppens. In May 2005, the CME, under the baton of Timothy Weiss, performed two concerts of works by Sir Harrison Birtwistle, who was in residence at Oberlin. Oberlin has long been an undergraduate haven for many nationally acclaimed composers, chamber musicians, and ensembles, and several rising young performers of new music began their careers as members of the CME, including eighth blackbird and the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE).